Throughout history, exhibition shooters have often influenced each other. For example, Ad and Plinky Topperwein, an exhibition shooting couple, inspired a young Herb Parsons, who in turn inspired the Shooting Star, Tom Knapp.
The following is a message from Cody Firearms Museum Curator Warren Newman, who knew Knapp personally:
“Tom Knapp was indisputably one of the world’s greatest exhibition shooters. He amazed tens of thousands of people with his shooting skills and charmed them with his friendly nature and keen sense of humor. He held three clay target world records and hosted ‘Benelli’s American Birdhunter’ television show for eight years.
“He was sponsored across the years by Winchester Olin, Benelli, USA, Federal Cartridge, and CZ-USA. The Cody Firearms Museum has three of his Benelli firearms on display, along with Tom’s first gun – a Daisy Number 25 BB rifle. Two of his CZ shotguns (Models 712 and 912) and his BRNO target rifle are currently being processed to complete his memorial display at the museum.”
The remainder of the collection will go on display spring 2014.
